Christian magistrate appeals removal over same-sex adoption views

A Christian magistrate is back in court fighting a decision to stop him overseeing adoption cases because his views on same-sex parents.

A five-day hearing began at the Croydon Employment Tribunal on Tuesday to determine whether Richard Page can appeal the decision to remove him from office.

Mr Page was removed after he gave a media interview in 2015, during which he said he was unconvinced placing a child with a same-sex couple would be in the youngster's best interests.

The Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice followed a recommendation from the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office's disciplinary panel that Mr Page no longer serve as a magistrate.

Mr Page said: "To punish me and to seek to silence me for expressing a dissenting view is deeply worrying.

"I shall challenge this decision as it is deeply illiberal and intolerant.

"It is vital the family law courts always have in mind the best interests of the children.

The 69-year-old was previously challenged by senior colleagues in late 2014 when he announced he could not agree with fellow magistrates that supported placing a child in the care of a homosexual couple.

At the time, he was reprimanded and ordered to undertake re-education training.

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